No weaknesses; the guy is near perfect

Not even close; Federer is far more perfect with fewer weaknesses

Simply amazing tennis today, and Novak has shown that he can indeed continue his winning from last years season. I have to wonder if Novak has any weaknesses and could he be the most perfect player in existence today?

Simply amazing tennis today, and Novak has shown that he can indeed continue his winning from last years season. I have to wonder if Novak has any weaknesses and could he be the most perfect player in existence today?

Yes, you maybe correct on that one. However, to keep things on topic I am solely talking about weaknesses that players can take advantage of, ie holes in your game that cause you to lose.

I just don't see that in Novak's game and he is competing against two of the best players to exist in the Open Era!

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Novak's forehand is where you can exploit him in crosscourt exchanges, which Federer has had some success. This is how he beat Novak at the FO; he was able to stretch Novak wide and wasn't afraid to go to his forehand in crosscourt exchanges.

Yes, you maybe correct on that one. However, to keep things on topic I am solely talking about weaknesses that players can take advantage of, ie holes in your game that cause you to lose.

I just don't see that in Novak's game and he is competing against two of the best players to exist in the Open Era!

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His game is perfect for the way tennis has gone. He is equally outstanding off backhand and forehand drives, very powerful, consistent, accurate, and ability to control and do virtually anything with either. He now has a very good serve and return combo, outstanding return, and serve that is a weapon again. He is equally good at offense and defense, and adapt at turning defense into offense. He now is one of the fittest players in recent years after it being a liability previously, and one of the mentally fittest as well which was also iffy before. So for the modern game his game is pretty much impossible to attack. The things he isnt so strong at, transition game to the net, volleying, finesse shots, slices, arent even that effective or neccessary anymore, so really dont hurt him hardly ever.

Novak's forehand is where you can exploit him in crosscourt exchanges, which Federer has had some success. This is how he beat Novak at the FO; he was able to stretch Novak wide and wasn't afraid to go to his forehand in crosscourt exchanges.

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True that is a good point. However he isnt able to do this in most of their matches so it obviously isnt easy to do.

After Sampras, who indeed was the most complete player of the last 40 years, Djokovic is the most complete. His volleying is at least adequate, he just doesn't approach the net a lot but he knows when to do that and in those cases he puts the ball away.

Novak definitely is the most dominant player on tour right now, and it would seem that he has no weaknesses.

However, to say he is the most perfect is a bit too far. People called Federer perfect and it also seemed as though he had no weaknesses, until one man came and exploited it. To this day, Nadal is still the only player who can take advantage of Federer's lone weakness.

So, it may seem that right now, Djokovic is peerless. But I'm sure someone down the road will have his number.

Novak definitely is the most dominant player on tour right now, and it would seem that he has no weaknesses.

However, to say he is the most perfect is a bit too far. People called Federer perfect and it also seemed as though he had no weaknesses, until one man came and exploited it. To this day, Nadal is still the only player who can take advantage of Federer's lone weakness.

So, it may seem that right now, Djokovic is peerless. But I'm sure someone down the road will have his number.

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Federer does not have a lone weakness. He also is weaker mentally compared to other players. IMO that is how Novak has consistently defeated Federer.

After Sampras, who indeed was the most complete player of the last 40 years, Djokovic is the most complete. His volleying is at least adequate, he just doesn't approach the net a lot but he knows when to do that and in those cases he puts the ball away.

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I agree with that, he also at one point mastered the lob and drop shot which many players completely lack or just are not good at.

Federer does not have a lone weakness. He also is weaker mentally compared to other players. IMO that is how Novak has consistently defeated Federer.

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Oh, I thought you meant technical weaknesses. Yeah, Federer can show signs of mental weakness against Djokovic, but it's nowhere near the level he shows against Nadal. Plus, it's not one that someone can easily exploit, that is, if they could.

Oh, I thought you meant technical weaknesses. Yeah, Federer can show signs of mental weakness against Djokovic, but it's nowhere near the level he shows against Nadal. Plus, it's not one that someone can easily exploit, that is, if they could.

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We are talking about the highest standards here. Considering the full tennis game. Novak just simply does not seem to have a weakness to exploit, and if Nadal and Federer can't find it, I really don't see how others will.

After Sampras, who indeed was the most complete player of the last 40 years, Djokovic is the most complete. His volleying is at least adequate, he just doesn't approach the net a lot but he knows when to do that and in those cases he puts the ball away.

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LOL, if Pete Sampras is the most complete player of the past 40 years, then Feliciano Lopez has the best 1hbh, and Roddick has the best ROS.

No player who won 7 Wimbledons can not be good at returning. The only iffy part of Sampras's game at times was his backhand, but Federer's backhand and volleying are both iffy at times, as is his mentality under pressure which was not true of Sampras. Truth is Sampras the supposed serve/volleyer played the backcourt and played it better than Federer the baseliner hardly ever plays the net. Sampras could rally and outplay the likes of Agassi and Courier off the ground. Federer would not likely be beating the likes of Edberg or Sampras by taking the net away from them.

The gap between the two men in serving is even more than the gap in them in returning. Federer has a very good serve but it cant even compare to Sampras's GOAT serve.

Look at timing of the poll. It was created by a Nadal fan hoping to toast Federer's legacy when Djokovic is at his best and he is over 30 years old and several years past his best days. And still fails.

His balance of offense, hyper offense, and defense is incredible. Against the current field, he has basically no serious weaknesses.

Most perfect, there's certainly a strong argument.

Most perfect of the poly string/bigger and lighter racquet sub era. I don't think that should be overlooked. He game is perfect for the equipment and court conditions of this sub era.

Of course he could beat earlier players if these conditions stayed the same. But, would he be nearly as complete under different conditions? I'm not saying the answer has to be "no" just putting that out there.

No player who won 7 Wimbledons can not be good at returning. The only iffy part of Sampras's game at times was his backhand, but Federer's backhand and volleying are both iffy at times, as is his mentality under pressure which was not true of Sampras. Truth is Sampras the supposed serve/volleyer played the backcourt and played it better than Federer the baseliner hardly ever plays the net. Sampras could rally and outplay the likes of Agassi and Courier off the ground. Federer would not likely be beating the likes of Edberg or Sampras by taking the net away from them.

The gap between the two men in serving is even more than the gap in them in returning. Federer has a very good serve but it cant even compare to Sampras's GOAT serve.

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Davey, your post is full of @#$%, as always. For e.g., you compare Sampras against his peers from the baseline (Agassi, courier), and compare Federer against Sampras' peers (Edberg). Why not compare Sampras from the ground against Federer & his peers (Nadal, Djoker, Murray) -- i can guarantee you, it will look ugly for Pete. Also, Federer did really well at the net against Pete in 2001. But I'm sure you don't like facts.

How are your predictions about Serena winning 20+ slams and Djokovic never winning wimbledon coming along?

Simply amazing tennis today, and Novak has shown that he can indeed continue his winning from last years season. I have to wonder if Novak has any weaknesses and could he be the most perfect player in existence today?

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I really, really don't like the word "perfect". Obviously, perfection doesn't exist but I find he has a very complete game and the mental/stamina are very impressive right now. He can still improve his 1st serve. That's the only relative weakness I see in his game right now.

His balance of offense, hyper offense, and defense is incredible. Against the current field, he has basically no serious weaknesses.

Most perfect, there's certainly a strong argument.

Most perfect of the poly string/bigger and lighter racquet sub era. I don't think that should be overlooked. He game is perfect for the equipment and court conditions of this sub era.

Of course he could beat earlier players if these conditions stayed the same. But, would he be yearly as complete under different conditions? I'm not saying the answer has to be "no" just putting that out there.

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Yeah, again as always it's extremely tough to compare across different eras because of the difference in conditions, equipment etc.

Also Novak's serve was definitely not a strength in this years's AO, he had to work hard for almost every service game today (and against Murray in SF).

Novak has won 5 of 7
Nadal has won 10 of 15
Federer has won 16 of 23
Novak + Nadal together don't have as many grand slam titles as Federer
Nadal doesn't even have as many grand slam final appearances as Federer has titles yet.
(This was prior to AO 2012)

It's hard to say what Federer at his prime would have been like against Djokovic or Nadal ... it's all just speculation.

But what is certain is that Federer is easily the G.O.A.T for now and until someone else can reach at least 16 titles.

we didnt watch the same match because only in the 5th set did Djoker have to "work hard" agaisnt Rafa. And that was when he was dead tired.

Murray is different because he is a superior returner compared to Rafa.

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Work hard as in had to win rallies all the time, not getting enough service winners(Nadal outaced him and Novak has a much better ROS). He was dominating Nadal in the rallies which is why Nadal had so few BPs.

But again, even in matches against Ferrer and Hewitt his serve just wasn't a weapon like it was in 2011 AO IMO.

After Sampras, who indeed was the most complete player of the last 40 years, Djokovic is the most complete. His volleying is at least adequate, he just doesn't approach the net a lot but he knows when to do that and in those cases he puts the ball away.

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No player who royally sucks at a surface that takes up 35-40% of the season can be the "most complete." Sampras lacked endurance, an elite baseline game, and the adaptability and point construction that makes a great all-around player. When Sampras's weapons were on, he was blowing everyone off the court. When they didn't, he had a good chance of getting bounced in straights.

You're failing to take into account Andy Murray's incredible athleticism and skill. He is the clear no. 2 in terms of talent. Nadal is the most competitive player on tour, and he attempts to intimidate his opponents with his power game (usually successfully unless his opponent is named Djokovic), but as athletes, Murray and Djokovic are far ahead.

We are talking about the highest standards here. Considering the full tennis game. Novak just simply does not seem to have a weakness to exploit, and if Nadal and Federer can't find it, I really don't see how others will.

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LOL at lolvile. It's the 25 yr old Nadal that needs to figure out Nole, not a 30 yr old Fed. Nole has beaten him 7 straight times on every surfaces.

Djokovic has excellent depth on his groundstrokes and return, but weak offense overall - no great serve, no crushing power, no insane angles.

Unless he can stay in his backhand corner and pound a weak backhand w/ no slice, he is typically unable (or unwilling) to hit winners.

Whenever Nadal hit a slice or DTL forehand, the point was back to neutral. They spent 6 hours on this mutual masturbation because neither had a complete offensive package to hit through the other. Nadal has his forehand, but his weak backhand makes it possible to avoid it.